Shipwreck-hunting company sues over Blackbeard’s ship

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The shipwreck-hunting company that found Blackbeard’s sunken ship off the North Carolina coast has sued the state for more than $8 million, saying officials violated a contract involving photos and videos of the wreck and recovery.

Florida-based Intersal Inc. also says in the lawsuit filed Monday that the amount being sought could increase as the company discovers further violations of the contract involving the ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, which sank 300 years ago.

The lawsuit also seeks a temporary order preventing the state from violating the contract and from recovering more objects from the ship. North Carolina has created a tourist industry based on Blackbeard and the ship since its discovery in 1996.

A spokeswoman for the state says North Carolina denies violating the contract.